Feature Photo: Tony Nungaray

Nocturnal Wonderland 2018

This previous weekend marked the 23rd version of Nocturnal Wonderland and I couldn't have been extra excited to attend. As North America’s longest working dance pageant, it holds a particular place in my coronary heart. Nocturnal has been the one occasion nonetheless working at this venue thus far. Over 65,000 headliners flocked to San Bernardino’s Glen Helen Regional Park for the black-lit neon playground. The occasion boasted 4 state-of-the-art phases, costumed creatures of the evening, glowing artwork installations, tenting actions, and high notch performances from over 60 artists. Main acts included AC Slater, Audien, Cristoph, Illenium, NGHTMRE & SLANDER plus far more. 

Friday

Catering to a extra mature crowd, this occasion carried drum and bass, slightly little bit of dubstep, and lots of tech home. Black gentle shines all over the place, jungle vines and neon painted creatures come out in numerous corners. I caught the tail finish of Brennen Grey up at Sunken Garden. This stage had a lighthouse that located on the darkish nook atop of the hill with its search gentle circling. Grey’s set sounded similar to the nice Eric Prydz.

Photo Credit: Keiki-Lani Knudsen

Heading down the hill to Danny Bryd, I believed to attempt some new music out. His drum and bass set kicked off the evening completely. High vitality and a hype man to tell us simply who we had been watching, I had a very good feeling about this occasion. Jonas Rathsman introduced the deep home vibes sprinkled with some tropical feels. Finding the Boombox Art automobile on the backside of the hill within the again nook, Scooby carried out some extra DnB. The house round right here is open so pushing by means of crowds was not essential. Habstrakt carried out his hype home music with entice on the Wolves Den. I heard about Cristoph however needed to see him reside so we made our means again to the Garden. Only the perfect deep, progressive home vibes discovered right here.

My most anticipated artist of the weekend, little doubt, was Netsky. He delivered on the Labyrinth above and past my expectations. With his superb drum and bass hits, he illuminated the group. Intensive vitality from all his followers exuded for that hour set. I even heard some blissful hardcore and hints of dub which threw extra wildness into the air. It definitely match the weekend’s theme. The best factor about this stage had been the lasers!

Photo Credit:  Ivan Meneses
Oscar Da Grouch had three rappers battling it out. I had by no means heard phrases spoken so quick but it surely was fairly a present. For anybody within the space at the moment, Insomniac founder Pasquale Rotella roamed round and took footage with everybody, myself included. Eli & Fur introduced the smoulder of deep home vibrations. Their minimal, deep tech-house set confirmed that DJing isn't just for the boys.

Figuring out who to shut with was powerful. I needed to bounce round between Illenium, Nora En Pure, and Flux Pavilion. Illenium explored the daring and delightful shades of bass but additionally blended in his emotional hits as nicely. Flux placed on a heavy bass/dub/entice set. I ended with Nora’s tropical deep home sound. Jumping and X-stepping all evening requires a little bit of calm.

Saturday

Gearing up for day 2, Dateless caught my consideration along with his tribal tech home set. However, I needed to catch BlackGummy as he's a legendary sound engineer. His distinctive prowess deems him worthy of the mau5trap label. I’ve been following his music for some time now so to see him reside, it was nice. AC Slater killed it as at all times. Mikey Lion B2B Lee Reynolds launched me to the Desert Hearts label and so they threw a celebration like no different. Tech-drenched home vitality and angle, this was a depraved efficiency.

Photo credit score: Keiki-Lani Knudsen
Said the Sky had the feels popping out like waves. Boombox Cartel gave a novel set true to their sound. Throwing in some bass/dub and entice, the group received lit. Deorro returned to this occasion and gave us the perfect large room home anthems we’ve had since festivals started. Ending a predominantly home occasion with MK made the weekend all value it.

Overall, I believe this 12 months’s occasion succeeded in its re-branding. The whimsical performers, reside mural work, and psychedelic 3D artwork spoke to the kid in all of us. While I didn’t get to camp this 12 months, I do know its custom lives on and tops itself every time. It’s the right venue that casts the right vibe of outside and music pageant. Despite one loss of life, Insomniac continues to supply excellent massives that we bear in mind without end. As we enter Fall, I wait anxiously for the subsequent occasion. Until subsequent time–peace, love, evening owls unite!

Photo credit score:  Ivan Meneses

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